Nursing necklace

Finally done- new embroidered necklace. 

 Beads are covered by organic cotton fabric. For embroidering I used organic bamboo thread. 

One can wear it as a nursing necklace, and anyway that was the primary purpose I have made it. 

Perfect for little green people and Eco-friendly Mums.

It has 16 embroidered beads and long stripes to regulate its length. Do not you find frustrating with some necklaces. You see something unique. You want to touch it, you want to try it on and you want to see yourself to look lovely and than you look in the mirror and........oh.... oh...... it is not as you have imagined and hoped. Don't you find it frustrating sometimes? I do.  In most cases a length is just not right for me. Hence great advantage of the necklaces I make - you can regulate how you would like to wear them.

This fresh beautiful necklace is now available in my shop. 

Sakura

I got myself together and finishing a nursing necklace. It is not easy when your baby is teething, has a cold and you walk like a zombie with 3 hours sleep a day. But hey ho! Life goes on. 

Good news is that I have found an inspiration for a nursing necklace. 

There it is - an astonishing photograph I have seen a couple of years ago in Kew Gardens. The main theme - cherry blossom and snow. I love its delicate flowers and light snow petals dancing in the air.

Kenrokuen gardens, Kanazawa, Japan by Claire Takacs 

I admire Japanese cherries. They are called Sakura in Japanese and have a significant place in Japanese culture.  First: people celebrate blossoming of cherry blossoms with a ceremonial reception called Hanami. They go out with friends and family and enjoy beauty of the blossoming trees. Is it not wonderful and romantic? A pure poetry!

 Secondly, Sakura have a strong symbolic notion.

Blossoming Cherries are a symbol of transience and are a reminder of our mortality. That is why Japanese Kamikazes painted cherry branches on theirs planes. Blossoming branches were lying on their graves. Stunning and quickly disappearing beauty. Like our life! 

Also, it is not surprisingly a symbol of power and feminine dominance, that comes from women's beauty.

It is also a symbol of hope and new beginning.*

Such a relevant motif for nursing necklace. 

There it comes: Sakura necklace. 

 *Understanding the symbolism of cherry blossoms by Kristina Dems (2011)

in this country that the blossoming of Cherry Blossoms is greeted with a euphoric ceremonial reception called Hanami where the Japanese go out with their friends or loved ones to simply enjoy the breathtaking pink-and-white splendor of Cherry Blossoms. - See more at: http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/69976-cherry-blossom-symbolism/#sthash.hi3cWB84.dpuf

Symbol of Transience

Although Cherry Blossoms can put up such a spectacular show, their existence is brief. This is the main reason why the Japanese people invests time and effort to vigilantly track down Cherry Blossoms so as not to miss a second of its passing time on earth. Cherry Blossoms therefore, are a reminder of our humanity - our mortality.
- See more at: http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/69976-cherry-blossom-symbolism/#sthash.hi3cWB84.dpuf

Symbol of Transience

Although Cherry Blossoms can put up such a spectacular show, their existence is brief. This is the main reason why the Japanese people invests time and effort to vigilantly track down Cherry Blossoms so as not to miss a second of its passing time on earth. Cherry Blossoms therefore, are a reminder of our humanity - our mortality.
- See more at: http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/69976-cherry-blossom-symbolism/#sthash.hi3cWB84.dpuf

 

Celebrate pregnancy

I choose that title because I regret a bit... I regret how I approached my pregnancy time:)

And I actually started to think about it because of my last order.

I got a special commission for a necklace from a pregnant girl. 

She prepares herself very carefully for motherhood in all its aspects. And she even thought about mother's jewellery.  Though this necklace is going to be a nursing necklace.

I showed her plenty of colourful patterns: strawberries, owls, dots and more.
She grabbed the embroidered necklace and said: Well I like this it has a nice texture. 
It strikes me. She thought about a texture for a little hands to touch. I did not go in such a detail. I just carried on with my life, shouting around that I hate to be pregnant. What can be nice about it? All day sickness, limited mobility, different sex life, eating loads, people touching my bump all the time, tiredness......
I was wrong. So terribly wrong. And silly.

Celebrating your pregnancy is extremely important! I did not know. I did not feel that way. I wish I was fully aware about that when I was expecting.....

Maybe I would get myself to make hundreds of photos of my belly growing - despite of my silly thoughts that it was bigger and bigger only because I committed a sin of eating enormous amount of food.

Maybe I would make some little booties, crochet hats and vests, toys, socks et cetera.....

Maybe I would play Her more classical music and would tell more stories about Moomin's.

Or perhaps I would  sing to Her more often. Or I would find out more about birth to avoid medical intervention in a hospital. And I would have Little Bee at home. Maybe....

Do not get me wrong. I did think about that stuff and made an effort. Just from the  time  perspective it seems to be e bit foolish of me to not prepare better. Perhaps I did not find a right person to talk to and did not read the right book. 

I am just trying ti fix it now and cherish motherhood truly.

***

Anyway I am so keen to design this very unique piece. Let's start then. 

Spring in the air :)

There is fresh spring in the air. I just came back from a walk. the usual one with Little Bee. We both got some vitamin D from sun that somehow shows up from time to time. It is very windy though. Almost an hour in a playground swinging on the swing, interacting with other children and my daughter sleeps like a baby. And I can make something nice. 

Pompoms? Still mad abut them.

 Pompons and spring? 

I can not wait for the spring this year. 

so many nice things is coming up: 

Two weeks at the seaside to boost Little Bee's immunity. 

Little Bee's 1st birthday. 

Longer days. More sunshine 

More sunshine. More sunshine....

 Pompom spring flowers bouquet. 

It is fun to make it. 

 You just need bamboo sticks and some colorful yarn.

Flowers available in my shop as well 

Click here

Pompon madness

My pompon making madness has a purpose. Here it is. 

A pompon pillow cover. It took me almost one week to create it. 

And frankly I had to think about the price really carefully. 

Making pompons is a great fun but also is time consuming! Especially hard for mum with startig-crawling-very energetic 8 months M. I hope it does not sound pitiful. I am just stating a fact. Handmade things are time consuming :) And good that they are. 

 I love to receive handmade gifts especially when they are made especially for me. It is wonderful to think that somebody actually had to decide about a gift and then sacrificed some time to make it. I feel special. 

I feel exceptional.

On Christmas day one of my friends gave me a gift he bought on the petrol station just before he arrived to our place. How do I know? My partner found a receipt in the gift bag. Ha ha! Why bother? I understand that people are busy. However I bet that eighty percent of individuals who are claiming to  be the most busy have time to watch TV for two hours a day minimum But it does not matter really. 

What matters is the fact that people expect to buy handmade things as cheap as if they were made in China. 

But that does not work  like that. I have designed something, spent my time making it. It is a unique piece. I would like to be paid for my work fairly.

FAIR TRADE 

That is why to make living out of crafting is so difficult.

Pillow case is made from natural quality linen and pompons  from acrylic yarn. 

Available on purchase here

Making pompons

I just decided to make something different than necklaces. Just for fun for now. Couple of days ago I went for a walk with Little Bee. And we popped in to a local library. Got great books for a baby and discovered that they have craft club  every Monday, I want to join in, just the time is not suitable. I hope that Little Bee could come with me.

And there was something else:  a book I borrowed, fantastic. Get it if you can.

There are plenty of magic, crafty tricks you can create with kids. I love pompons idea and started to make them. with my little assistant: 

 Little Bee is fascinated with the actual  result. 


First pompon

Twin pompon 

Snake pompon

H for Hedgehogcraft pompon 

Heaps of pompons

little dots, polka dots.....

I guess this piece is very simple. I was actually looking for a fabric that I could use to make springy dress for my little one. My Mum made a few dresses for me when i was little. All this beautiful patterns flowers, little dots, polka dots.......stripes looked  amazing. Fresh colors grass greens, strawberry, tutti frutti ice cream, banana, oranges, sand, sea blue bottles, colourful glass all of those were on my dresses

I was looking for a pattern like that and found a couple in my usual fabric shopping destination.
And than thought Hold on, necklace would look quite refreshing. and there it is. 

This time I made plenty of shots, so one can see how precise it is and what is it to expect.

Available for purchase here